Class Size
Overcrowded classrooms aren’t good for our students.
By officially forming ACE as our union, we, as Clovis Educators, will be able to negotiate a union contract that maintains and protects what we currently have and locks in needed improvements that will maximize support for our students and our colleagues. Unlike the Faculty Senate—which serves as an advisory-only group—as ACE, we will have an actual seat at the table. That means a voice for all our colleagues—from SPED educators and Psychologists to Classroom Teachers and Coaches.
Union educators have won huge victories for class size and student support through their unions
- Class sizes with defined teacher/student ratios, guaranteed maximums (including in specific content areas that may require more individualized instruction), and consistency across grade-levels and subject areas.
- Overload compensation when classes exceed class size maximums and other mechanisms to incentivize keeping class sizes with the parameters defined in the collective bargaining agreement.
- Class size language that takes into consideration the physical classroom or workspace, keeping educators and students safe.
- Contract language that provides for compensation and an orderly volunteer system for teachers who cover a class as a period sub or receive students from an absent teacher’s classroom when helping to minimize disruption to student learning and spur district solutions to substitute teacher shortages.
- For incoming students enrolling after the start of the school year, required timelines and processes to ensure class size levels are maintained and student placement is managed efficiently.
More examples of union victories for small class size and student support
- Contract language that provides for compensation and an orderly volunteer system for teachers who cover a class as a period sub or receive students from an absent teacher’s classroom when helping to minimize disruption to student learning and spur district solutions to substitute teacher shortages.
- For incoming students enrolling after the start of the school year, required timelines and processes to ensure class size levels are maintained and student placement is managed efficiently.
“At Merced Union High School District, we were able to bargain language that recognizes the importance of limiting the number of students participating in a class, assigned to a counselor, and equalizing, to the extent possible, the number of students assigned to classes within a subject area. We also have language built into the contract that takes into consideration the physical classroom or workspace, how many desks, workstations, and students that space can safely maintain, and processes for resolving classroom and workspace issues. Both are important to our student’s educational environment and our unit member’s working conditions.” — Tim Pust, AP Calculus & Precalculus, Golden Valley High School, Merced Union High School District, Teachers Association President
“In Galt Joint Union Elementary School District, we recently bargained language, effective next school year, that provides our unit members extra compensation when class sizes exceed our current caps under the collective bargaining agreement for 10 or more days. While this remains a work in progress, this agreement acknowledges the extra work that comes with extra students but also serves as an incentive to keep class sizes small. Both our union and our district understand that smaller class size allows educators across our district to achieve high quality instruction, providing for more one-on-one instructional time, improved student learning, and more meaningful communication with families.” — Heather Wetzel, 5th Grade Teacher/Induction Coordinator& Mentor, Marengo Elementary School, Galt Elementary Faculty Association President
Finding Solutions to Class Size issues through a Union Contract
Class sizes in Clovis vary significantly, and there are no consequences when a class has excess students, no resources or support promised to teachers of large classes, and no recourse or relief to teachers who are stretched to their limits.
A union contract can address class size and caseload issues that are impacting educators and their students. What would it look like if all educators were part of ACE and we had the ability to bargain contract language about class size?
First, the district administration wouldn’t be able to decide on their own about class size. They’d have to bargain with us. This doesn’t mean we’d be able to determine by ourselves, but it would have to be a mutual agreement between educators and district administration.
Second, we would get access to the necessary information, have the ability to share the information, and have CTA resources to help analyze the data.
Third, we would have access to the hundreds of union chapters throughout the state that have already bargained their own language around class sizes.
The final and most important reason why forming a union will help address class sizes is that we will negotiate the solution, Clovis educators, based on the realities we know and understand.
Related FAQs
Why are Clovis Educators unionizing?
Clovis unified educators are unionizing to ensure a strong voice in decisions that impact our students, schools, and professions. By establishing the Association of Clovis Educators, we can negotiate a union contract that can ensure that Clovis educators have a meaningful say in decisions that impact our classrooms, improve pay and benefits, help cut down on turnover, address work/life balance and establish job security. Having a strong voice in decisions is critical when decisions are being made about the health and welfare of our students, colleagues and school communities. Together, we can ensure Clovis Unified prioritizes people over programs.